Help! I have my nose stuck in a book!!

P&P

2012-01-26T10:48:00.000-06:00

Finding time to read seems like a big of a struggle during the week right now. I am hoping this weekend, like last, will give me a lot of time to read.

It's hard to pick up Pride and Prejudice and just read a chapter, at least since I am not that far in. I don't want to give up on this and don't plan on it but I feel like I need more time to really commit to it. So we'll see what happens after this weekend. I just need more time. I need lots of beach vacations so I can just read and read and read as much as I want.

One of my February book club books, Moloka'i by Alan Brennet, is ready and waiting at the library. The sequel to Across the Universe is there too. And the new Joshilyn Jackson is in transit. Soon enough these will all be in my possession and will be competing for my attention (especially Grown-Up Kind of Pretty).

So that is what is going on in my reading life.

Currently Reading: Pride & Prejudice

2012-01-24T14:33:00.000-06:00

Book 6: The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach

2012-01-23T15:48:00.001-06:00

When I ordered Miss P's Home for Peculiar Children, I needed another book to up my total to earn free shipping. I searched and searched and finally decided to take a chance on The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach, and I am glad I did.

I thought this would be kind of a dude book because it was about baseball, but knowing I do enjoy watching baseball and this seemed like something I wouldn't normally have read, I decided I should read it.

I think an understanding and interest in baseball are key to enjoying this book. There are chapters were there is a lot of description of baseball games, but that isn't the only thing this book is about.

I feel in love with the characters who each face struggles of their own. I couldn't wait to see where the story would take them next. And I kind of loved that my baseball team (the St. Louis Cardinals) were part of the story.

So if you enjoy a good story about people and their relationships and life struggles, as well as being a baseball fan, you should check this out.

5/5

Book Review vs Reaction

2012-01-18T16:06:00.000-06:00

I wanted to share these tweets as 1. I respect Book Lady a ton. and 2. I agree with her. I think what I write is more of a reaction which is why I have always hated calling them reviews but didn't know what else it was. I am a book blogger but definitely not a legit reviewer and that is OK.

Currently Reading: The Art of Fielding

2012-01-16T10:33:00.000-06:00

The Art of Fielding

Book 5:The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

2012-01-15T15:26:00.001-06:00

When I was about 13 I LOVED reading Lurlene McDaniels' books. That being said The Fault in Our Stars by John Green would have been right up alley and SO MUCH better than the books I was reading.

Here is the synopsis:

Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now.

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.

I don't want to give anything away so I'll leave it at that. I did cry my eyes out so make sure you have a box of tissues near by (or a roll of TP if you are out of tissues).

5/5

Book 4: After Dark by Haruki Murakami

2012-01-14T16:58:00.000-06:00

3/5

Working for the weekend

2012-01-12T15:44:00.001-06:00

This week has been so busy. I have hardly hard time to read and when I did I was so tired. I guess it's not fair to blame work though. I've had yoga classes and a happy hour. And tonight a birthday party of my niece and nephew (twins) who are 5 today!

Hopefully I'll find lots of time this weekend though as I don't really have any plans except for helping out with the quads tomorrow night.

Right now I am pretty much focusing on After Dark. Haven't been able to make any more progress in Clash of Kings (maybe this weekend I can get a couple of chapters down?).

I started the first two weeks of the year so strong by reading 3 books. Hopefully I can squeak out 3 more before the end of the month.

2012 Reading Goals

2012-01-10T09:04:00.001-06:00

Seeing how it is January 10, I felt like I needed to get around to finishing this post.

My main reading goal for 2012 is to read 75 books. Every year my secret goal is to read 100 but I'm not sure that is possible with a full time job. So I'll see if I can hit 75 again (this was my final number in 2010).

As always I'd like to read more nonfiction, but finding nonfiction that interests me is difficult.

Some books I'd like to read this year:

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Say Her Name by Francisco Goldman
Anthropology of an American Girl by Hilary Thayer Hamann
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

Books I'd like to r-read in 2012:

Graceling by Kristin Cashore (and probably Fire too)
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
The History of Love by Nicole Krauss
At least one Austen novel
Matilda by Roald Dahl

Currently Reading: After Dark by Haruki Murakami

2012-01-09T10:55:00.000-06:00

Started this last night. Haven't been able to really read any more of Clash of Kings since Friday.

Book 3: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

2012-01-08T17:26:00.001-06:00

I can't believe I waited so long to read Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. I had a copy of this book in my possession twice (once from the library and once borrowed from my friend Amy) and it just sat there. I finally bought a copy for myself. It arrived on Friday and I started reading it Friday night (after reading a few chapters of Clash of Kings of course) and was finished with it before I went to sleep last night. It was so good!

I think part of the reason it took me a little while to actually start reading, even though I wanted to read it for so long, was that I wasn't exactly sure what the story was about. I mean obviously the title gives away that is about children who are somehow peculiar. The summary provided by the publisher didn't stick with me for some reason.

The story is not only about Miss Peregrine's peculiar children but is also about a teenager named Jacob and his grandfather, who once lived at Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.

After tragedy strike's Jacob's family, he travels to a small island of of the coast of Whales to try and piece together his grandfather's mysterious past. Along the way, Jacob learns a secret about himself, as well as the secrets of Miss Peregrine and her peculiar children.

The story of this book is quite unique and I have to admit I haven't read anything quite like it. What makes it even more interesting is that the author uses about four dozen vintage photographs that he and a few others have collected from flea markets. Random, vintage photographs that are woven into the story line. It adds such a great layer to the story, and at times makes it a little creepy.

If you have been curious about this book you should check it out. I wouldn't recommend reading it on an eInk technology reader as you won't be able to enjoy the photos quite as much.

It looks like this book will at least have one book that follows that is scheduled to publish in Spring 2013.

4.5/5

Currently Reading

2012-01-07T09:22:00.000-06:00

Still working on Clash of Kings. I'm about 23% through. I have definitely accepted the fact that I'm not going to be able to just read that book (at least for now) and it may take me a while to get through.

I started re-reading Delirium by Lauren Oliver at the gym this week too in anticipation of the release of the second book Pandemonium.

I was feeling quite unsatisfied with what I have been reading the last few days and luckily Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children arrived at my house yesterday. So after making my way through a couple of chapters of Clash of Kings I decided to start reading it. I am so glad I did. It is just what I needed. I am really enjoying it.

I've also bee working on writing up my 2012 goals post so hopefully I'll finish that up soon. I think I am over thinking it.

Book 2: Ash by Melinda Lo

2012-01-03T20:06:00.001-06:00

3/4

To Read & Currently Reading

2012-01-03T09:42:00.000-06:00

After not receiving any books for Christmas, I decided to order some for myself.

We the Animals by Justin Torres. I believe I first heard about it on a Bookrageous podcast. It's a tiny little book (only 128 pages). It's the coming-of-age of three brothers.
I have been wanting to read Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs for a long time. It was actually the only book I asked for as a Christmas gift and now I am giving it to myself. I am a little afraid I'll be frightened by it so I'll have to plan to read it when I know I won't be spending any nights alone.

A co-worker sent me a link to an article about the photos used in this novel which really sparked my interest in this book.

I easily knew I wanted to order these two books and when BN told me I needed to add $3 and some change to my card to qualify for free shipping I did a lot of searching and pondering over what my last book would be.

I've heard a lot of great things about Chad Harbach's The Art of Fielding so I decided to get it. This seems like a book I wouldn't be drawn to because it seems like it is a sports book, but after taking a closer look at the summary I think that it might be right up my alley. I decided that since this didn't seem like a book I would normally read I should go for it.

So now I just have to wait for them to arrive. And UPS isn't working today so it might be next week before I receive them. So while I wait I'll be reading A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin. I have been wanting to read the second book in the Song of Fire and Ice series but the length had been scaring me off. I figured since it's the beginning of the year and I don't feel the crunch of how many books I'll be able to squeeze in by the end I figure it was good timing. I also decided to start reading Ash by Malinda Lo while I'm reading Clash of Kings so that I feel like I am making progress with something.

This space in 2012

2012-01-02T09:55:00.000-06:00

I've been debating what I'm going to do here in 2012. I think I may go back to the way things were a long time ago. I used this space to write about books but didn't write about every single book I read. I wrote about the ones that I felt strongly about. I wrote about books that were on my radar. Books that were sitting on my bedside table to possibly be read.

I think I want to go back to this. I'll still keep a running list of what I am reading on the side.

Still decided what my reading goals are for the year, so that post is to come.

Book 1: The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling

2012-01-01T20:04:00.001-06:00

3/5

2011 Wrap Up Post

2011-12-31T09:00:00.008-06:00

My goal for this year was 67 books. I managed to read 69. I read 24,324 pages which is about 500 more than last year (even though I read 6 less books this year).

Here are the goals I set for myself for 2011 and how I feel I did.

I want to keep writing about what I'm reading and try to improve it. Accomplished at least continuing to write. Don't feel like I improved.
I want to try to be more open-minded about when I read something. Like when a book I've requested comes in from the library, I want to make a better attempt to read it even if I don't especially feel like reading it right then. Definitely didn't do to well with this, but I'm OK with it.
USE THE LIBRARY MORE! I'm kind of running out of space. Once we get our house in better order I won't worry as much but right now I don't know where to go with books. I think I did all right on this one. 27 library books this year (last year was only 11).
I know I posted a list of books I want to read in 2011, but I think I'm going to make a short list (maybe 10-15) of books that books/authors I want to read but have avoided reading or that I have tried reading and ended up putting down. I would like to believe that my 50-page rule won't apply to these, but I'm not promising anything. I only read 3 off of this but I'm am more than OK with this. I kind of can't believe The Great Gatsby wasn't on this list.
1. ~~Black Swan Green by David Mitchell~~
2. The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris
3. The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen
4. ~~The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood~~
5. Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace
6. Faceless Killers by Henning Mankell
7. ~~Blankets by Craig Thompson~~

And last but not least, my faovrite books from what I read this year, in the order I read them. Not all of them published in 2011.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Swamplandia! by Karen Russell
The Metropolis Case by Matthew Gallaway
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Graceling by Kristin Cashore (and Fire)
Blood Red Road by Moria Young
True Grit by Charles Portis
When She Woke by Hillary Jordan

2011 Reads

2011-12-31T00:00:00.001-06:00

The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood
The Luxe by Anna Godbersen
Blankets* by Craig Thompson
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Boneshaker*** by Cherie Priest
American Rose: A Nation Laid Bare: The Life and Times of Gypsy Rose by Karen Abbott
Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami
Delirium by Lauren Oliver
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks**+ by Rebecca Skloot
Loving Frank* by Nancy Horan
Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin
Sputnik Sweetheart by Haruki Murakami
Swamplandia!+ by Karen Russell
Whiter Shades* of Pale by Christian Lander
World War Z*** by Max Brooks
Across the Universe by Beth Revis
The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown
The Metropolis Case+ by Matthew Gallaway
The Handmaid's Tale***+ by Margaret Atwood
The Tiger’s Wife by Téa Obreht
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Swim Back to Me by Ann Packer
Rumors by Anna Godbersen
Where She Went by Gayle Forman
Matched by Ally Condie
Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers* by Mary Roach
Cat's Cradle*** by Kurt Vonnegut
A Discovery of Witches: A Novel* by Deborah Harkness
Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris
Divergent***+ by Veronica Roth
The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
Half Broke Horses** by Jeannette Walls
Graceling+ by Kristin Cashore
The Forgotten Garden* by Kate Morton
One Day by David Nicholls
Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan
Blood Red Road+ by Moria Young
Fire+ by Kristin Cashore
True Grit***+ by Charles Portis
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams
By Nightfall by Michael Cunningham
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Thirteen Reasons Why* by Jay Asher
Good Omens** by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao*** by Junot Díaz
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
Crank by Ellen Hopkins
Runaways (Volume 1): Pride and Joy by Brian K. Vaughan
Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2) by Suzanne Collins
Room* by Emma Donoghue
White Noise*** by Don Delillo
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Habibi by Craig Thompson
The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
On the Road*** by Jack Kerouac
The Ninth Wife* by Amy Stolls
The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides
When She Woke+ by Hillary Jordan
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Geek Love*** by Katherine Dunn
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
Black Swan Green by David Mitchell
Feed by M.T. Anderson
The Kitchen House* by Kathleen Grissom
Soulless by Gail Carriger
The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
Changeless by Gail Carriger

*Book Club Selection
**Work Book Club Selection
***Book Club 3
+Highly Recommended

Changeless by Gail Carriger

2011-12-30T15:40:00.002-06:00

Looks like Changless by Gail Carriger will be my last book of 2011. I went directly from finishing the first book in Parasol Protectorate series into the second. It took me far to long to finish this one, but I blame Christmas and bronchitis.

I think I may save books three and four for later, perhaps for the beach. I think the fifth book publishes at the end of February.

Interesting fact, Gail Carriger is actually a pen name.

The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

2011-12-30T09:57:00.000-06:00

The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi has been on my to-read list for far too long. I sat down and began reading this last night and read it almost in its entirety in one sitting (stupid cold!).

Persopolis is the tale of Satrapi's own experience growing up with very left-minded parents during the 1980s and 1990's of Iran. Reading this book made me even more grateful for the life I was born into. I try to remember that not all women in this world can live as freely as I do.

I'm not so great at reading non-fiction. Ok I am REALLY terrible about reading it. I love that graphic novels make material so much more easily available to me. Like reading Craig Thompson's Habibi, I learned new things about a culture and experience that is unfamiliar to me.

4/5

To Read: A Grown-up Kind of Pretty by Joshilyn Jackson

2011-12-27T10:35:00.000-06:00

Just saw an 2012 books to look forward to list and this was on it. I had no idea she had a new book coming out and I am looking forward to it.

Soulless by Gail Carriger

2011-12-23T11:11:00.001-06:00

The book that completed my 2011 reading goal was total brain-candy, and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Soulless by Gail Carriger was recommended to me by Marcia. I am so glad she decided to tell me about the Parasol Protectorate series. It's exactly what I need right now. It's Victorian paranormal, that slowly sneaks in Steampunk. If you aren't a fan of Steampunk, don't shy away. It isn't heavy on the Steampunk at all.

If you enjoy Jane Austen, then I think you'd like these books. Obviously they are VERY different than Austen, but nonetheless would be enjoyed by Austen fans. Especially if you like vampire/werewolf novels.

I immediately started the second book, Changeless, upon finishing the first. I hear it is even better than the first.

Currently Reading (and loving): Soulless by Gail Carriger

2011-12-21T08:54:00.000-06:00

From Indiebound.org:

Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette.

Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire -- and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate.

With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London's high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?

SOULLESS is a comedy of manners set in Victorian London: full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking.

2012 Publications I am looking forward to

2011-12-20T09:00:00.001-06:00

Most of these are YA or Brain Candy but oh well. Right now these are the books I am really looking forward to publishing in 2012 (in the order that they publish).

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver (Delirium #2)
Expected Publication: March 6, 2012

This is the follow-up book to Delirium.

Insurgent by Veronica Roth (Deivergent #2)
Expected Publication: May 1, 2012

This is the follow-up book to Divergent.

Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore (Seven Kingdoms #3)
Expected Publication: May 1, 2012

The last book in this set of companion books published in 2009. Luckily I just read Graceling and Fire in 2011 so I haven't had to wait as long as some fans of the final book in the set.

Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris (Sookie Stackhouse #12)
Expected Publication: May 1, 2012

Of course my expectations for this are low but I'll be at the beach when it publishes, which is perfect timing.

Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness (All Souls Trilogy #2)
Expected Publication: July 10

Follow-up to the first novel of the All Souls Trilogy, A Discovery of Witches.

The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom

2011-12-19T11:09:00.002-06:00

The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom surprised me. I wasn't super thrilled about reading it. Historical fiction isn't usually my thing, but I ended up really enjoying it.

Lavinia, the main character, is orphaned while traveling from Ireland to the United states in the late 1700s. As a result she finds herself at the age of 7 living with the captain as an indentured servant. Lavinia lives with the captains slaves, who nurse her back to health and become her family. The concept of a little white girl (who doesn't understand the color lines of the south) living among salves on a tobacco plantation is pretty interesting.

As Lavinia grows up, she remains close to the family who raised her, but she also begins to become accepted into the Big House. You see Lavinia have to figure out how to live this new life and what it means to her slave family.

I really loved the first half of this book which focused on Lavinia's childhood and her life living among Belle, Mama Mae, Papa George, Fanny and Beattie - the twins, and Ben. The second half is a little more intense and filled with drama. I had a sense of foreboding as I read. You know things that Lavinia doesn't know by reading the alternating chapters that are in Belle's voice. This makes it even more intense at times.

This is a book club book for me this December. I am curious to meet next week and see what everyone else though.

4/5

Stuck in a Rut

2011-12-06T12:17:00.001-06:00

I was stuck in a rut this past week, but I think I've finally pulled myself out of it. Every book I tried to read just didn't motivate me. Maybe it's because I've been sick and was too tired.

Either way I finally was able to start reading last night. I started one of my December Book Club books, The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom.I ended up downloading it to my nook because it was convenient.

I also need to re-read Great House for another book club that is meeting on the 19th so hopefully I get through Kitchen House quickly.

My work book club is reading The Hunger Games for January so I at least need to re-read Mockingjay before then. I think I know HG and CF by heart almost but I've only read Mockingjay once.

So this has been a rambling post to explain why I haven't posted.

Book 65: Feed by M.T. Anderson

2011-11-29T21:32:00.001-06:00

I bought Feed by M.T. Anderson on a whim a few months ago when the eBook was super cheap. And I finally got around to reading it the last couple of days.

This book is set in the future when most Americans have feeds installed into their brains. The feed is always shouting commercials at you, you watch sitcoms over it, surf the web, buy things. It seems like total craziness. I don't think I would like it one bit. Titus and Violet are the main characters. Both are teens living slightly different lifestyles in the super consumption-happy US. They meet while on a spring break trip on the moon.

I think this quick summary from the publisher sums it up quite nicely:

Identity crises, consumerism, and star-crossed teenage love in a futuristic society where people connect to the Internet via feeds implanted in their brains.

The language in this book made me laugh. When the parents spoke to their children they would say things like "Dude, what is doing?" As always with dyspotians, as I am reading and once I am finished it makes me a little afraid of what our country is becoming or could become.

3/5

Black Swan Green by David Mitchell

2011-11-29T10:44:00.000-06:00

David Mitchell's Black Swan Green has been on my to read list for over a year. I finally go to move it over to my read shelf. I feel kind of in between on this book is that possible?

Black Swan Green is a year in the life of Jason Taylor, a 13-year-old, British boy who falls between the popular kids and the dorky kids. As most of us know 13 is a pretty awkward age and there is no exception for Jason. On top of having to be 13, he is going through lots of turmoil at home. His parents aren't getting along, his sister prepares and leaves for university. At school he is constantly being bullied. These kids are ruthless!

I enjoyed most parts of this book. I could have done without all the war stuff. That part felt like it droned on for me. I also felt like the way the bullying was resolved felt very after school special and cheesey. I mean I am glad it came to the adults' attentions but they acted completely clueless. I get that his parents probably had no idea. They paid so little attention to him. But the teachers? The only one who gave an inkling that he was aware was the one who left the whistle on top of the bullying papers.

I think Jason is a good kid with his head on straight and I liked that the book ended not so perfectly but you still feel hopeful for him.

3.5/5

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

2011-11-28T12:16:00.000-06:00

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi kept popping up on my radar and I couldn't ignore it. I was super curious. I had a gift card and was in need of a little easy reading so I decided to download it. I am very glad I did.

I really enjoyed reading about Juliette (and Adam). The book begins with Juliette in solitary confinement and has been there for 264 days. She hasn't spoken to or touched another person that entire time. And the last time she did touch someone it resulted in a tragic accident.

When she was last in the outside word it was crumbling. There wasn't enough food and the weather wasn't acting normal. The clouds were a weird color and there weren't any birds flying in the sky. The Restablishment has taken over and is trying to help everyone survive. It's been so long she isn't sure if things have gotten better or worse.

Reading this dystopian novel, while it has similar themes as a lot of the current YA novels, was somewhat refreshing and felt different than the last few I've picked up. While there is a lot of action and momentum in the first installment of this series it could definitely be considered a lot of laying the groundwork for the story that is to come. That being said, it doesn't mean it is bad or boring.

Some of the writing is a little cheesey but the target audience is probably a 14-year-old girl so I am willing to excuse that. I do think that Juliette could be a stronger female protagonist, but at the same time I can understand why she is so afraid and constantly questioning what is going on around her.

This book isn't perfect, but it is an enjoyable, easy read. I am looking forward to the next book.

3.5/5

Friday Reads

2011-11-18T09:19:00.000-06:00

So Friday Reads is a twitter thing, but I am posting about it here just in case you don't know about it. Every Friday people post what they are reading, whether it is a book, magazine, newspaper, audio book, etc. Tweet what you are reading with the hashtag #fridayreads and you are participating! The best part is if you participate today, then next Friday you'll be eligible to win a book from the Friday Reads' team.

Friday Reads has spilled over onto Tumblr and Facebook as well so if you don't do twitter you can still participate.

My Friday Reads this week is Black Swan Green by David Mitchell.

Geek Love By Katherine Dunn

2011-11-16T12:01:00.000-06:00

Book recommendation generators kept recommending Katherine Dunn's Geek Love to me. So I finally read it. I went to a book club meeting after starting it and brought it as a suggestion and we decided to read it for November.

I honestly am not sure what to say about this book. It is strange. It's a family of circus/carny folk. The parents intentionally try to birth freaks. They experiential with drugs and all kinds of crazy stuff while the mother is pregnant. The children who survive are most definitely not what is referred to as a "norm" in the book.

I don't feel like there is a super solid story line. Most of the book is learning about Oly, our albino, hunchback, midget narrator, and her family and what occurred in their family; almost like back story in a way. Then there is a more current story line of where Oly is more recently.

I thought this book was OK. I felt like sometimes I was missing part of the story and would get confused. I never really felt like I didn't want to be reading it but by the time I got about 100 pages from the end I did feel like I was ready to move on.

3/5

Such a grown-up.

2011-11-14T15:36:00.000-06:00

This is probably one of my favorite gifts from my 30th birthday, a Hedwig mug. I also have The Tales of Beedle the Bard and The Hunger Games Collector's Edition on their way to my house as part of the same birthday gift.

My month long birthday celebration is over which is sad, but it was fabulous so I'm not so sad!

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

2011-11-07T11:08:00.000-06:00

I picked up Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson while on the St. Louis Independent Bookstore Alliance October Book Store Cruise. I had a Groupon to use at The Book House (awesome bookstore!) and this was one of the books I decided to get with it.

This book is only about 200 pages so it was a super quick read; although it was anything but light. This is the story of Melinda, a high school freshman, who is the outcast of her school after calling the cops from a huge party and getting lots of people in trouble.

Starting high school can be scary enough but to go in without any friends and being hated makes it even harder. I just wanted to reach into this book and strangle her parents. I felt like they were so wrapped up in their own issues that they were completely ignoring her. I felt so bad for her throughout the entire novel.

By the end of the novel, Melinda is able to break her silence, and we are left with hope for her.

When She Woke by Hillary Jordan

2011-11-05T18:33:00.001-05:00

When She Woke by Hillary Jordan published last month (Oct 4, 2011); it flew completely under my radar. As soon as I discovered it, I just wanted to rush out and buy a copy. But I was good and requested it from the library. I was rewarded too, because I got it pretty quickly.

This book has been described as The Scarlet Letter meets The Handmaid's Tale. I think that is fairly accurate, but what is best is that it is its own story. It gives me hope for Offred (from Handmaid's Tale).

Hannah is raised in a very conservative Christian household in a futuristic Texas. The Texas she lives in has made abortion illegal; it is considered murder. In order to help alleviate overcrowding jails, they begin Chroming criminals: blue, yellow, red. Red is for murder. So when Hannah is caught leaving her abortion she is sentenced to be Chromed. She refuses to name the father or her abortionist so she alone is persecuted for her crime. We follow Hannah through what her life has become and the transformation she undergoes as a person.

One day I was driving to work and I heard a story on NPR about Mississippi attempting to redefine what a person is and that you are a person as soon as you are conceived. I couldn't believe it when I heard it. I was reading this book about a possible future that I find frightening and then I hear this story on the radio. So while this book is futuristic, speculative, and even a bit sci-fi, it is definitely relevant to the time we live in.

I can't stop thinking about this book. It is definitely going to be one of the few that makes it on my top list for 2011.

Hilliary Jordan is currently on tour for this book and will be at Left Bank Books in CWE on November 28. Check her site for more tour dates and locations.

4.5/5

The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides

2011-11-05T17:33:00.002-05:00

The Marriage Plot by Jefferey Eugenides seemed to be the other IT book of the fall (the first being The Night Circus). The Marriage Plot was on my radar, but wasn't a book that I was anxiously awaiting. I started reading Middlesex, but couldn't finish it; not because it wasn't good but it was just too depressing for me. But when I checked out the summary for MP I was much more interested than I had expected I'd be.

My opinions on the characters changed throughout the novel. Mitchell probably annoyed me most. I felt so sad for Madeleine and Leonard. It was interesting to get both of their perspectives on his maniac depression. I probably found the parts about his depression the most interesting.

I was happy with the ending. I liked the book overall but didn't LOVE it. It's a book about people, so if you are into that kind of thing (it's totally my thing) you should check it out. Maybe get it from the library though.

3.5/5

The book that REALLY brought out the nerd in me: The Hunger Games

2011-10-26T09:12:00.001-05:00

This post is my entry in the Book Nerd Out giveaway hosted by Book Riot: Reviews, Recommendations, and Commentary about books and reading (but, you know, fun).

Getting my HG shirt at
Hot Topic

It shouldn't be surprising to people who know me the the book that I have nerded out for hardest is The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I specifically nerded out when the final book in the trilogy, Mockingjay, was released.

Finally!

I first read The Hunger Games when we randomly selected it for a book club meeting. I brought it as a suggestion, and we literally picked it out of a hat. By the time our next meeting rolled around everyone had read not only The Hunger Games, but also Catching Fire. I know a book is amazing when everyone in the group loved it so much they managed to read two books for our meeting.

The wait for Mockingjay felt like it would never end. We decided in advanced that our August book club would be dedicated to it. The plan was to have a sleepover and we'd all stay up the whole night reading. Keep in mind most of us are around 30 so this could seem a bit ridiculous.

Book Release Party

I pre-ordered the book to keep myself from reading before our book club sleepover which was scheduled for the Friday following the release. My friend and I heard a rumor that Hot Topic was selling HG t-shirts so of course we headed to the mall because we HAD to each get one.

All the anticipation was killing me! I cancelled my pre-order and called up Pudd'nhead Books whom I heard was having a midnight-release party to order a copy. I spent every spare moment I had over the next three days re-reading the first two books. I finished up just in time to head out to meet my friends Jeni and Megan for the midnight release. I was pretty exhausted the next day at work but it was a super fun night and I had never gone to midnight release party before. It was definitely worth it.

I couldn't wait to start reading for our sleepover book club meeting so I dove right in on my lunch break Tuesday. I read enough that I was able to finish at our meeting that Friday. I couldn't tell you the last time I had a sleepover with a bunch of girls! It was so much fun.

Mockingjay Book Club Sleepover

The Ninth Wife by Amy Stolls

2011-10-21T09:30:00.000-05:00

I finished up my latest book club book last night. The Ninth Wife by Amy Stolls was recommended to me by Cindy. It is about Bess, a single 35-year-old who has a pretty successful life. She is convinced to throw a singles party, where she meets Rory. They hit it off and begin spending lots of time together. Then after only a few months Rory proposes to Bess while they are away for the weekend. After this proposal Rory admits that he has eight ex-wives.

Bess is faced with the decision of saying yes or no to Rory. She struggles to understand why he has had so many unsuccessful marriages in the past and what it means for them. While Bess is reeling with all of this she is also helping her grandparents (her only living family) move across the country to a retirement community.

This book was an easy quick read, which I definitely needed. When I first started reading I wasn't so sure about the writing. I mean it isn't awesome but it isn't terrible. The book feels cheesey at times. I'd say this would be a great book for vacation because you don't have to think too much, so you can relax while reading. It should make for some interesting book club discussion.

The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

2011-10-12T08:30:00.001-05:00

Goodreads keeps recommending this book to me and I happen to see it at the library on Saturday so I decided to grab it. I am very glad I did!

The Sky Is Everywhere is a young adult novel about 17-year-old Lennie whose older dies suddenly. This book is about how she deals with her grief and figuring who she is which is a much different person without her sister. There's also a love triangle thrown in. Her sister's boyfriend is the only person that Lennie feels like understands how she is feeling. And there is the new, extremely hot guy who moved to town.

This book is a little cheesey at times but I really enjoyed reading it. Aspects of it reminded me of If I stay by Gayle Forman.

Habibi by Craig Thompson

2011-10-11T20:29:00.000-05:00

My plan for this past Saturday was to be super lazy. The only productive thing I did that day was stop by the library because Habibi by Craig Thompson was waiting for me.

I spent the entire afternoon curled up in my bed reading it. I feel like this is a difficult book for me to sum up but I'll give it a shot. It is the story of two orphans/child slaves in the middle east who find each other and cling to one another so that they can survive.

Here is the publisher's description which is so much better than my own:

From the internationally acclaimed author of Blankets (“A triumph for the genre.”—Library Journal), a highly anticipated new graphic novel.

Sprawling across an epic landscape of deserts, harems, and modern industrial clutter, Habibi tells the tale of Dodola and Zam, refugee child slaves bound to each other by chance, by circumstance, and by the love that grows between them. We follow them as their lives unfold together and apart; as they struggle to make a place for themselves in a world (not unlike our own) fueled by fear, lust, and greed; and as they discover the extraordinary depth—and frailty—of their connection.

At once contemporary and timeless, Habibi gives us a love story of astounding resonance: a parable about our relationship to the natural world, the cultural divide between the first and third worlds, the common heritage of Christianity and Islam, and, most potently, the magic of storytelling.

I enjoyed reading Habibi as much as I enjoyed Blankets, although I felt like I learned a little more from this one. The author gives side-by-side comparisons of what is believed in the Christian faith and the Muslim faith. I admit I know very little about Muslim's faiths so it was quite interesting to read this book. I also felt very torn for the characters in several places throughout. Their story was so sad.

I'm still learning how to properly read a graphic novel. I always feel like I read them too quickly. I try to remind myself to look more carefully at the art.

Currently Reading: On the Road by Jack Kerouac

2011-10-06T09:45:00.000-05:00

This is what I've been reading this week. For some reason I've wanted to write about it while I was reading instead of after. But I am sure I'll have to say something about it afterward as well.

I have always wanted to read Kerouac's On the Road. I bought a copy and tried to pick it up several times without any luck. But now I have to read it for book club. I use the word have in jest a little. I'm glad to have a reason to read it and it made me press on when I might have just set it down again.

It seems like people either LOVE this book or hate it. I'm not sure where I'll fall. I'm a little over halfway through. I feel kind of indifferent at this point. I am curious to see where Sal ends up. It just seems like a guy who feels torn between living his "normal" life and that of living like a vagrant. I don't really get it and it does kind of aggravate me when he's like "I'm going to take off even though I don't really have any money." I mean wouldn't we all love to travel all over and have a grand old time? I guess I wouldn't be willing to live the lifestyle required to do it without the funds as they do in this book.

At times Sal redeems himself when he is making decisions that don't make sense to me. Like when he was working as the guard the first time he goes to San Fran and he sends the majority of his pay home to his aunt. I like Sal and I want good things for Sal. I want him to find a great gal and have a good life.

The parts with Dean always make me feel anxious, which I am sure is intended because he is such a "maniac". I always want to read through these parts super fast.

So that is what I am reading now and some thoughts on it. I'll do a follow-up post once I have finished.

The Sookie Stackhouse Companion by Charlaine Harris

2011-09-30T15:53:00.000-05:00

I finished ready The Sookie Stackhouse Companion at lunch today.

It contains the brand-new novella Small Town Wedding, which chronicles Sookie's trip with Sam to his hometown of Wright, Texas for his brother's wedding. I thought that this novella was one of the best newer writings of the series that I have read in a while.

The book also contained synopses of each published book in the series. I thoroughly enjoyed reading those as it has been a while since I have read most of the books. She also lists out when each short story falls within the timeline of the books which I really appreciated!

Other items you'll find in the book:

Recipes
Q&A with Alan Ball with questions from readers
Q&A with Charlaine Harris with questions from readers
She also lists out when each short story falls within the timeline of the books which I really appreciated!

This week at work was stressful so I was happy to have this to read when I got home. I wish that
Home Improvement Undead Edition was available as an eBook from the library right now so that I could read If I had a Hammer the only Sookie story/book I haven't read.

I decided not to include this in the books I read this year because it just doesn't seem like it should count.

Currently Reading: The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle

2011-09-24T22:56:00.001-05:00

I started reading The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle Thursday night. I've been pretty busy and am having trouble concentrating when I do sit down to read so I have only made it to about page 60.

I definitely want to read this but at the moment I am craving some brain-candy. I also keep thinking about A Clash of Kings which is kind of like brain candy but has way too many characters for my brain to keep track of right now.

Lastly, I have to admit that I am worried that I am reading too much and I am starting to run out of things to read. Or things I really want to read or will love. I feel like it has been months since I have read something that I really loved. Where are all the good books? I know they are out there I just need to find them and realize they are books I want to read. I feel like my reading horizon has really expanded over the last three years and I don't really see that changing so I'm sure I'll stumble upon something soon.

Slump

2011-09-22T11:32:00.002-05:00

I am totally in a reading slump.

What are you reading? What's the best book you have read this year?

Another Bulk Post

2011-09-20T11:43:00.000-05:00

These are the last of the books that I've added to my read in 2011 list that I haven't posted on yet.

A Game of Thrones A Song of Ice and Fire: Book One by George R.R. Martin: I kept seeing this book everywhere and everyone was talking about the HBO series which made me curious so I decided to pick up a copy. WOW. This book is LONG. And the rest of the books in the series only seem to get longer. There are lots of characters to keep track of initially, so I did a lot of flipping back and forth. I really liked this book. So much that I went out and bought Book 2 - A Clash of Kings as soon as I finished it. It's still waiting to be read though. I didn't think I could do two such long books back to back. 4/5

Crank by Ellen Hopkins: This is a YA book about a girl who falls into an addiction of Meth. The author drew based on her life experience and that of her daughter when she wrote it This book was a quick read. It was written in a very interesting format. The pages look like poems rather than a novel. 3/5

Runaways, Volume 1 Pride & Joy by Brian K. Vaughn: I had been meaning to check this out for a while and so when I saw it at a Border's closing sale, I snagged a copy. This was a nice quick read and is the story of kids who parents are the opposite of super heros: VILLIANS. Once the kids find this out, they try to take action which is harder than they thought it would be. The art is in this is great. I loved the drawings where the color was manipulated to show how dark a room was with one strip of light coming through. 4/5

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

2011-09-20T09:34:00.001-05:00

I finished the high anticipated book of the fall last night, The Night Circus by Emma Morgenstern. I have been dying to read this book since April. I went to three stores on the release date before I got a copy.

From the Publisher:

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus performers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.

So first things, first. I did not LOVE this book. I really wanted to but I didn't. However, I did really enjoy it. I did really like the story and the concept of The Night Circus. I loved the characters, but there were so many that I never got attached to any particular character the way I felt I should.

The story is very rich in detail. The descriptions of the circus and other surroundings are described like someone is talking about a piece of art. After I started reading this book I learned that Morgenstern is an artist so that explains all of the imagery. Sometimes it was too much for me and I felt myself having trouble paying attention to what I was reading.

The book itself was BEAUTIFUL! The end sheets are striped black and white just like the tents of the circus. The part openers had their own special design. The cover has a little bit of iridescence to it. The pages are made of very nice paper. I kept thinking I had turned two pages and not just one because it was thicker than what I am used to.

I'm not sure if this book was ruined for me by all of the hype. I don't think that was it. I think what didn't take it all the way for me was the low level of emotion this book provoked in me.

I still gave it 4/5 because I did really enjoy reading it. I just didn't love it. I do think it deserves a re-read.

Catching up!

2011-09-20T09:08:00.001-05:00

Here is a quick review of the books I've read this month so far.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins: This was my third time through reading this books. Every time I read it I enjoy it more. So now I am ready to re-read Mockingjay!

Room by Emma Donoghue: This is a book club book for September. I was on the fence about reading it because the subject seemed kind of creepy.Everyone told me that because it was from a child's perspective it made it less creepy and I have to admit they were right. I enjoyed reading this book. I couldn't wait to see what happened to Ma and Jack. I loved how creative Ma was in keeping Jack active and educated despite the extremely limited resources she had. I gave this 3.5/5.

White Noise by Don Delillo: Another September book club read. I was assigned this book in college and didn't make it all the way through it. I didn't really enjoy it. It felt like a bunch of babbling to me and the characters weren't very realistic. I made it through to the end though! When I posted about this book on another site, Wendy kept mentioning that she always thought that the kids in this book do not speak the way real kids would and I have to admit she is totally right, although I'm not sure that is something that I would have noticed on my own.

I'll be doing a similar post for the other 3 books I haven't written about yet.

But next up is going to be my post about The Night Circus.

Currently Reading: The Night Circus! Finally!

2011-09-14T14:21:00.000-05:00

Need to Catch up!

2011-09-01T16:20:00.009-05:00

I have three books I finished recently that I still need to post on.

Hopefully I can get them up soon!

Currently Reading: A Game of Thrones

2011-08-22T15:55:00.000-05:00

I've been working reading A Game of Thrones for the last week. I'm getting closer to the end. About 200 pages to g.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz

2011-08-16T14:38:00.000-05:00

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz was one of my three book club books for August. This book has caught my eye a few times, once at City Lights in SF, at the library, and strolling through Puddn'head Books. I'd always pick it up, but never walked away with it. So when it was suggested I was definitely interested in reading it.

This book tells the story of Osar, his mother, and his sister, who were all born in the Dominican Republic and moved to the United States. The history of the DR also seems to be a character as well. I learned a lot about this country while reading this novel.

I liked this novel and I am glad I read it, but I didn't really like it. There were lots of Spanish phrases that weren't translated and I didn't understand. There were some key emotions that were lost to me as a result.

I was glad all of the DR history stuff was included mostly as footnotes because I could pick and chose what I wanted to read. I'm not a big history buff or non-fiction reader so while I appreciate learning a little while I'm reading fiction, I don't want all of the details.

Good Omens by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman

2011-08-11T21:28:00.000-05:00

Good Omens, a joint effort by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaimann, is my August Work Book Club book. This seems like a tricky book to sum up so I am going to steal the text from IndieBound:

According to The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch (the world's only completely accurate book of prophecies, written in 1655, before she exploded), the world will end on a Saturday. Next Saturday, in fact. Just before dinner.

So the armies of Good and Evil are amassing, Atlantis is rising, frogs are falling, tempers are flaring. Everything appears to be going according to Divine Plan. Except a somewhat fussy angel and a fast-living demon—both of whom have lived amongst Earth's mortals since The Beginning and have grown rather fond of the lifestyle—are not actually looking forward to the coming Rapture.

And someone seems to have misplaced the Antichrist . . .

I have to admit I wanted to love this book more than I did. And really I gave it 3/5 stars because I really enjoyed the first two-hundred pages, but not much after that. The first half went by super quickly. I loved the characters, Aziraphale, the angel and part-time rare book dealer, and Crowley, the fallen angel, turned daemon, and the relationship between them.

Then I got to the middle of the book where things really seemed to get muddled. Lots of characters were being introduced and it was hard for me to figure who they were and how they fit into the story at first. I put the book down for over a week and then had to make myself pick it back up and finish.

Maybe I'm not a fan of books written by two authors?

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

2011-08-11T21:24:00.000-05:00

Here is another YA book that deals with a difficult topic that I've been wanting to read for a while. I suggested Thirteen Reasons Why for book club and we'll be discussing it at the end of the month.

This book is pretty different from any book I've read. It deals with the topic of suicide, and at that teen suicide which somehow seems worse. When the book begins, we meet Clay who has just arrived home from a typical day of high school. He finds a package on his front porch. It's always exciting to get a package, especially one you aren't expecting. But this package is anything but happy.

It contains 13 cassette tapes, all of which have both sides recorded and labeled, except tape 13 which only has one side. After popping in the first tape, we learn that these tapes contain stories about the people whose behavior towards a classmate, Hannah Baker, lead her to take her own life.

The book follows Clay through the night listening, tape by tape, waiting for his name to appear in one of the stories, wondering what he did to hurt Hannah, and learning things about some of his classmates that are terrible.

I think this is a great book for kids to read. It really reminds you how much your actions do affect other people even if you think they don't, or you think you are just kidding. If I had a child in junior high or high school I would really encourage them to read this.

4/5 stars

The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams

2011-08-11T21:20:00.000-05:00

After catching up on posts after vacation and debating what to do next I completely forgot to post about Carol Lynch WIlliams' The Chosen One. This book had been on my to-read list for over a year and after seeing Vicki post about it on Tumblr I felt compelled to pick it up.

This book tells the story of Kyra, a thirteen-year-old girl, growing up in a polygamous community in the Utah desert. Her father has three wives and she has 20-something siblings. She seems to live a pretty happy life and doesn't question the lifestyle her parents have chosen. That is until, the Prophet shows up at her house and announces that God has chosen her to be the seventh wife of her 60-year-old uncle.

This book deals with extremely difficult situations. It is upsetting, but it is also hopeful. It makes you grateful for your own life and being able to make choices that you take for granted every day. I was cheering for Kyra the entire way. I wanted her to run and never look back. But then the author would remind me that this was all she knew. That meant leaving her family. Things that I didn't even consider when reading how she was subjected to not only abuse, but having to watch the boy she loves be abused, and even her infant sister.

4/5 stars

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

2011-08-02T22:01:00.000-05:00

I have been wanting to read The Maze Runner by James Dashner for a while now. Right before I left for vacation I got an e-mail from the library saying the eBook was ready for me to check out and download.

This book is another teen dystopian novel, where a group of boy (The Gladers) are living inside a compound that's exits lead into a maze. For two years, the Gladers study the maze trying to find a way out. Then Thomas shows up. Like the others he doesn't remember past but things feel familiar to him. After he arrives things start going wrong and it all just seems too coincidental.

This is another one I felt kind of meh about. I felt like it was super slow, especially the first two thirds. I couldn't stop because I wanted to see how things turned out and why Gladers recognized Thomas and things felt familiar to him. I probably won't read the next book in the series.

By Nightfall by Michael Cunningham

2011-08-02T21:44:00.000-05:00

I really loved The Hours by Michael Cunningham, so I've always wanted to read something else by him but nothing ever really caught my interest. Then I heard about his latest novel By Nightfall. This is one of those books that is more about the people and less about the story. The kind of book I like. I liked this book but I didn't love it and can't rave about it.

Moving Forward

2011-08-02T21:31:00.001-05:00

So moving forward some of my posts might be super short. If I really love something I'll tell you all about it. If I hate it I'll probably tell you why.

But if I feel meh about it (meh is also a new tag). I probably won't say much.

Back from Vacation

2011-08-01T15:00:00.001-05:00

I need to update with some posts, but I've been contemplating how I want to move forward with this space so for now a couple of pics that sum up my vacation.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

After a couple days in Orlando, I spent the rest of the
week reading on the beach (Sanibel Island).

I read By Nightfall by Michael Cunningham and The Maze Runner By James Dashner.

I started reading Good Omens The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch By Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett (August Work Book Club Book) and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban By J. K. Rowling .

I also did a little listening to Atlas Shrugged By Ayn Rand (Work Book Club Book). I have until October to get through it.

Yesterday, I decided to start Thirteen Reasons Why By Jay Asher (my original Book Club Book) while I was at the pool. I am really enjoying it and I think I'll finish it quickly.

I don't think I have ever had 4 books going at once. And of course I have two books waiting for me at the library: Forever By Maggie Stiefvater and Bossypants By Tina Fey

New books!

2011-07-11T19:53:00.000-05:00

I got all of these books today for $16.55. Not too shabby. This whole going on vacation thing is making it difficult for me to pick a book to read now because I'm thinking about what I'll read on the beach.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

2011-07-11T15:22:00.000-05:00

So I finally read The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I'm not sure how I made it through all of my schooling without having read it. It was never assigned to me, which I find hard to believe.

I have to admit I wasn't blown away but this novel. Though I wonder if my impressions of it would be different if I'd read it in a setting where I was participating in discussions about it and having an instructor tell me all sorts of interesting facts about what was going on in the world when it was written and in Fitzgerald's life.

True Grit by Charles Portis

2011-07-08T10:42:00.000-05:00

True Grit by Charles Portis is one of my July book club books. Unfortunately, I'll be missing the meeting, but only because I'll be laying on the beach.

I was definitely interested in reading this book, but wasn't super excited (if that makes sense). I just wasn't sure if I'd like it or not. It's obviously a western, and I don't think I've read a western before.

This is the story of Mattie Ross, a precocious 14-year-old girl, who is on a mission to avenge her father's death. She is looking for Tom Cheney, a man who worked for her father and ended up shooting and killing him in Fort Smith, Arkansas and then emptying his wallet. Mattie recruits the one-eyed U.S. Marshal Rooster, Cogburn to help her track him down in the territory now known as Oklahoma.

This was a quick read, with lots of action. I ended up liking it a lot more than I was expecting. Now I just have to see the movie (the Jeff Bridges one). I loved that I could picture Jeff Bridges as Rooster the whole time I was reading. He is perfect for that role!

Fire by Kristin Cashore

2011-07-08T09:50:00.002-05:00

Fire is Kristin Cashore's second novel. While this book published after, Graceling, it is more of a prequel. It is set in the same world as Graceling, but has its own characters with one character that appears in both books.

This books is set in the Kingdom of the Dells (which is not one of the Seven Kingdoms of Graceling). The Dells doesn't have Gracelings, but it has Monsters. Beautiful and dangerous creatures who all have brightly colored fur and are attracted to blood. Fire herself is half-monster and half-human; she as bright red hair, with hints of orange and pink. She also has the power of mind-control. After her father's death, she is the last living human monster. The Dells is in a very tumultuous time. There are two Lords who are both conspiring to overthrow the king, and everyone knows that they are on the brink of war.

I love Cashore's writing style. I also find her views on marriage and sex refreshing as it is very different from most YA writers. As Fire a companion novel, you can read it without having read Graceling, but you'll want to read Graceling next because you'll enjoy Fire so much!

Blood Red Road by Moria Young

2011-07-08T09:22:00.000-05:00

I am very behind on posting for this book. I finished reading it in June. So hopefully I didn't forget too much.

Blood Red Road by Moria Young another fabulous dystopian novel set in a future after the Wrecker Civilization has long since been destroyed. The story's protagonist is Saba, a young teenage girl, who has lived near Silverlake, which has been drying up her entire life. She lives with her twin brother Lugh, pesky little sister, Emmi, and their father.

When mysterious men show up at Silverlake and take Lugh, Saba promises she will rescue him. This journey takes Saba into the lawless world her father protected her from at Silverlake. She makes many enemies and finds friends in the Free Hawks. Rescuing Lugh turns into much more than just that; Saba and her friends challenge the leaders of their civilization.

If you are a YA dystopian fan, I definitely recommend this book. Saba is a great main character; she learns things about herself and the world on her journey. The writing style may turn some off. Think Huck Finn but on a MUCH lesser scale. I noticed that only some words were spelled differently and that most of the book was written the way any other book would have been. The first few pages were a little tough to read but I adjusted quickly.

Something that struck me in this novel, that I think applies to other dystopian novels, is how in the future civilization seems to digress. When I was reading this it felt like I was reading something set in the old West.

This book is the first of a planned trilogy.

Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan

2011-07-02T10:05:00.000-05:00

I preordered J. Courtney Sullivan's latest novel, Maine, and then kept checking my order status to see if it had shipped. And then kept checking the tracking number to see where it once was it had shipped.

First let's talk about the cover. I think it could be a little deceiving. It kind of makes it look like a light, beachy read. I've actually heard it being touted as "the smart woman's beach read" for this summer. The only reason I think this could really be a good beach read is because the novel's central location is a family's beach house in Maine.

This is a book about people. About family and those relationships. There are four central characters who give us a glimpse into the Kellehers Family. Alice the matriarch of the family; Kathleen, Alice's oldest child, a recovering alcoholic and a bit of a hippie; Maggie, Kathleen's daughter, who finds herself pregnant by her not-so-great boyfriend; and Anne Marie, Alice's daughter-in-law, who acts as if her family is perfect.

If you like a good book about relationships, then this is right about your alley.

Currently Reading: Blood Red Road by Moria Young

2011-06-25T21:33:00.000-05:00

Finished Maine early this evening. Decided to start Blood Red Road by Moria Young.

Maine post to come.

Currently Reading: Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan

2011-06-21T20:25:00.002-05:00

One Day by David Nicholls

2011-06-20T21:40:00.000-05:00

One Day By David Nicholls has been on my radar for over a year now. I knew I wanted to read it but just was never in the right mood. On one of my last trips to Borders I found it on the Buy One, Get One 50% Off table along with The Passage, so I picked a copy up.

I was curious to read this as it was written by a man but is a love story. It is the story of Emma and Dex. The book begins with Rachel and Dex spending the night of their graduation together. They spend the next day together and go their separate ways. While they both take very different paths after graduation, the two develop an very intimate friendship. And beneath the surface the reader can see the love they both have for one another. The book chronicles their life-long friendship and the near-misses of their romance.

There were parts of this novel that I thought were pretty predictable. And there were times I wanted to tell Emma to stop talking to Dex because he was being such a jerk. And I wanted to tell Emma how fabulous she was because she didn't seem to realize it. This was a great book for reading by the pool.

I gave it 3/5 stars.

The Forgotten by Kate Morton

2011-06-20T18:51:00.000-05:00

Kate Morton's The Forgotten Garden is our June book club book. I decided to get started early because it is 560 pages long, which we didn't realize when we chose it. But that's ok because it is a good story.

From the publisher:

A tiny girl is abandoned on a ship headed for Australia in 1913. She arrives completely alone with nothing but a small suitcase containing a few clothes and a single book—a beautiful volume of fairy tales. She is taken in by the dockmaster and his wife and raised as their own. On her twenty-fi rst birthday, they tell her the truth, and with her sense of self shattered and very little to go on, "Nell" sets out to trace her real identity. Her quest leads her to Blackhurst Manor on the Cornish coast and the secrets of the doomed Mountrachet family. But it is not until her granddaughter, Cassandra, takes up the search after Nell’s death that all the pieces of the puzzle are assembled. A spellbinding tale of mystery and self-discovery, The Forgotten Garden will take hold of your imagination and never let go.

The chapters of this novel alternate between the stories and time periods several main characters. There is quite a bit of set-up involved so the first 100-150 pages can feel a little slow and confusing but it all comes together. I'm not sure if I would have read this or not if it hadn't been for book club. I am glad I read it but would be selective with whom I recommended it to.

To Read: Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

2011-06-16T15:38:00.000-05:00

I am super excited to read this book. I'm not sure how I am going to be able to wait until September!

From the publisher:

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus performers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.

A little of this, a little of that...

2011-06-13T11:26:00.000-05:00

Hopefully sometime this week I'll have my post on The Forgotten Garden up as I finished it up last week.

I decided that I'd start The Passage next. I feel like this was a mistake for two reasons. The Forgotten Garden is 560 pages and The Passage is 784 pages. So I probably should have read something shorter in between as two books that long back-to-back are a challenge for me. Also, I'm dog/cat/house-sitting this week and I am pages from the end of Part 1 and things are a little intense. Normally I don't think I would have thought anything of it but seeing as how I am a HUGE scaredy cat once the sun goes down and I am staying in someone else's house alone I'm afraid this might keep me awake at night. So my plan is to read the last few pages of Part 1 today at lunch and then wait until I am back home next week to continue on. I'm really enjoying this book but I think I'm going to have focus on finishing One Day even when I am not at the pool.

I also picked up a couple of new books over the weekend. The first one is Good Omens by Nail Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. This is my work book club book for August. Then I also got Blood Red Road by Moria Young.

I have a a running list of books I am thinking of ordering sometime this week.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (Book Club Book)
Fire By Kristin Cashore
Maine By J. Courtney Sullivan
The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates By Wes Moore (Book Club Book)

I think after I get those I'll be good for a while on new books. :)

Currently Reading

2011-06-06T09:04:00.000-05:00

As I mentioned on Friday, I was slowly making my way through The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton last week. I have to admit it was slow going. Yesterday morning I was only on page 90. We are reading this for our June 23 book club meeting so I figured that if I read 18 pages a day between now and then I'd be finished on time.

Then somehow I ended up reading over 200 pages of it yesterday. So I must have gotten to the part where you get sucked in. Although I don't really feel sucked it. There are so many narratives and lots of details so it can be tiring at times. Now that I am into the heart of the story I am enjoying it more than I was last week. Still I'm anxious to finish it and move on. I actually thought this might be the first BV book club book that I wasn't going to finish. I'm glad it didn't get the better of me.

I started reading David Nicholls' One Day on Friday at the pool. This is at least the third time I've begun this book and I got a lot further than I have every other time. It's great for reading poolside (which is my plan). While reading it I just want to yell at both of them because obviously they want each other. Also, I'd like to tell Dex want a jerk he is. I'm only about 100 pages in so I am sure there are a lot more places where I'll feel this way. I already feel sad for both of them and I am sure it is only going to get worse. Is this one I should be sure to finish reading while at home? Is it going to make me cry?

Books I want to read

2011-06-03T16:00:00.000-05:00

I haven't done one of these posts in a while. It is always funny to look back at them.These are a few books I recently added to my to-read list or recently bought but haven't yet read.

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

The Passage by Justin Cronin

One Day by David Nicholls

Fire by Kristin Cashore

I'm currently reading The Forgotten Garden By Kate Morton for book club. It is long and kind of slow going so I'm sure I'll read a book or two while I am reading it (unless it picks up the pace).

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

2011-06-01T20:40:00.000-05:00

Graceling by Kristin Cashore has been my to-read list for quite a while. I have gotten so many recommendations to read it. Finally after last week's book club meeting I decided it was time.

Graceling is the story of Katsa who lives in the middle ages and was born with a Grace. What is a grace you might ask? A Grace is something like a super power. Usually, a person graced can do something that a normal person can do but do it phenomenally well. Typically when a child is born their eyes are watched very carefully. If one day the eyes change color and each eye is a different color then the child is known to have a grace, although what that grace may be is usually still unknown. If a child is graced, he or she is taken into the King's Court to do his or her bidding.

Katsa was born with the grace to kill. At 8-years-old she began killing and maiming men for her uncle, King Randa. As Kasta matures she realizes that she doesn't always agree with the missions Randa sends her on and she begins to struggle with the power he has over her. She also meets a prince from one of the other kingdoms named Po, who also happens to be graced with the skill of hand-to-hand combat. Katsa and Po become friends and her life is forever changed.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved Katsa and Po. Katsa is such a strong female protagonist who truly stands by her beliefs. And Po could be considered a man way ahead of his time as he is definitely a feminist (at least when it comes to Katsa and respecting what she wants out of life).

There are two other books in this triology, Fire, which has already published, and Bitterblue scheduled to publish June 21, 2012. These books have different main characters than Graceling, which I admit disappoints me a little because I really loved Katsa and Po. I think they'll be in the books that follow but as minor characters.

5/5 stars on this one!

Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls

2011-06-01T20:37:00.000-05:00

Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls is our June book for my department book club. I was curious to see how I'd like this book because I didn't really like The Glass Castle.

Half Broke Horses is the story of the life of Wall's maternal grandmother, Lily Casey Smith. She calls it a true-life novel as she had to fill in some of the blanks herself. I must admit that Lily's life is quite amazing. She grew up on a ranch and was a very hard working kid. She managed to get her GED and eventually went to college during a time when many women didn't receive much of an education. You name it and Lily probably survived it.

It was very interesting to see the childhood of Wall's own mother in this novel and it helped explain why she was the woman she was.

I have to say that the title kind of annoyed me. It sounds grammatically incorrect. Also, within the book itself when horses are being discussed they always used a hyphen so that it read half-broke horses, so why isn't there a hyphen in the title?

This was a quick easy read. I gave it 3 stars out of 5 on goodreads.com.

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

2011-05-26T15:16:00.000-05:00

While in my reading slump last week, I visited Barnes and Noble, not once but twice. The first time I had no intention of buying anything as I knew I didn't have money to spend. I saw The Paris Wife and really wanted to buy it. The next day when I logged onto the library's eBook catalog I saw it was available for checkout. I'm actually really glad I didn't shell out the money for the hardback.

The Paris Wife is the story of Ernest Hemingway and his first wife, Hadley Richardson. Since we know she is his first (of four) wives you know the ending won't be as happy as you'd hope. We see the couple meet in Chicago through mutual friends, watch their relationship develop through writing letters since Hadley lives in St. Louis. And finally we see them decide to marry and not long after movie to Paris.

Hadley was a extremely supportive wife. I'm not sure I could have been as strong as she has. The way McLain portrays the love between Hemingway and Hadley is very sweet. It made my heart hurt the entire time I was reading because I knew it would end. Reading books like this frustrate me a little just because I don't know exactly what is true and what the author made up. But I do love that it always sparks my interest and I have to look up the people involved on the web once I finish reading.

Currently Reading: The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

2011-05-23T10:17:00.000-05:00

I've been slowing making my way through The Paris Wife since last Thursday. I'm not sure if I am just not feeling it or if I am just too busy and too tired to read this week. I think it is a little of both. Thankfully, I checked it out as an eBook from the library.

The The Meowmorphosis is finally at the library waiting for me.

I'll be picking it up today at lunch along with

Bumped

and

The Replacement

Stuck

2011-05-18T08:34:00.006-05:00

I'm dog-sitting this week which means lots of quiet alone time. Last night was night 1 and I just couldn't get into any of the books I bought. I checked out One Day, Half Broke Horses Mr. Peanut (I left this one at home), and Anthropology of an American Girl from the library but I just couldn't get into any of them.

I really want to read Anthropology. This is the second time I have tried to start it. I'm not sure if it's one of those books where you just have to adjust to the style of the writer or if it is just poorly edited.

I'm hoping it is just because I am tired and a little stressed. I was really hoping to get a lot of reading done this week but I'm not sure if that is going to happen. If only the copy of The Meowmorphosis would reach the library!

Divergent by Veronica Roth

2011-05-17T08:04:00.001-05:00

Wow! If you liked The Hunger Games, you should read Divergent by Veronica Roth.

I read about this book on another book blogger's blog. I didn't even know it was coming out. She said it was as good as The Hunger Games. That got my attention.

Divergent is set in a futuristic dystopian Chicago where the population is split into five factions that are based on a virtue: Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Eurdite (the intelligent). Once a citizen turns 16, he/she attends the Choosing Ceremony where they'll declare which faction they'll choose to be a part of. If you chose to leave the faction you were born into you leave your family behind because it is faction before family.

The protagonist is Beatrice (later known as Tris). She is faced with the decision of choosing between her family and living a life where she can be herself. Once her decision is made she faces a challenging initiation process where Tris questions who her friends are, who is she is and who she is becoming, and there is even a little romance. And she has a secret. One that could cost her her life if the leaders discover it.

This book is full of great characters. I love seeing so many young female characters in all of the latest teen reads. While Tris is very tough, she is real, and she does have fears.

I am hoping that in the next book we get more background on the society and how they came to be split up into factions. I can't wait for the second installment of the trilogy. It is going to be difficult to wait an entire year!!

Currently Reading: Divergent

2011-05-16T10:09:00.001-05:00

I started reading Divergent by Veronica Roth after seeing one book blogger say it was as good as The Hunger Games. That statement is pretty bold so I decided I had to check it out.

Last week was kind of crazy so I didn’t get to read and with visiting family this weekend the non-reading trend continued. Our entire drive back yesterday all I could think about was getting home and sitting down with this book and snuggling Pepe.

I blew through 200 pages last night and wanted to stay up all night reading. I knew that would be a bad idea though.

Now it is sitting on my desk waiting for lunch time. I am really really enjoying this story and can’t wait to how this installment ends (I think it is going to be a trilogy). Right now I’m not sure I would say it is as good as The Hunger Games, but it is probably the best Dystopian YA I have read since The Hunger Games.

Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris

2011-05-10T12:52:00.002-05:00

Dead Reckoning was the least satisfying read out of Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series. I'm sure she is getting tired of writing about this character so I understand.

I think that the next book may be the final one in the series which is probably a good thing. If you are a fan of the series you should give it a read as it is pretty short and quick, plus you don't want to be out of the loop on what is going on!

A Discovery of Witches: A Novel by Deborah Harkness

2011-05-09T15:32:00.000-05:00

I finished my May book club book WAY early. We are meeting May 25 to discuss A Discovery of Witches by Debroah Harkness. While this book is close to 600 pages it didn't feel like it! I started it early thinking it might take a little bit to read. It only took a week for me to get through it. I'm actually glad it was kind of long because I didn't want the story to end.

The main character of this story is Diana Bishop, a decedent of the Bishop witches who were persecuted in the Salem Witch Trials.Diana lost both of her parents as a young child and was raised by her aunt who is also a witch. She very much rejected being a witch and the magic that came along with it.

Diana is a young scholar, who when the story begins, is spending some time in Oxford doing research. She calls up a manuscript that is bewitched. She gives the book a quick look and then sends it back to the stacks. Little does she know that this book has been missing for centuries. Witches, daemons, and vampires have all been trying to get their hands on it. Once word spreads that Diana was able to call the book, a horde creatures show up at the library. Along the way Diana becomes friends with Matthew Clairmont, a fellow scholar, who is a vampire. And of course they fall in love, which is a huge taboo in their world.

I think it is safe to label this as brain candy reading. But they do talk about smart stuff like genetics and alchemy so it doesn't feel quite as trashy. I've also seen this book compared to Twilight, which I'd say is true to a certain extent, but this is WAY better. So please do not let this comparison scare you away.

Kathryn Stockett - St. Louis, May 4, 2011

2011-05-05T13:47:00.000-05:00

Photo Courtesy of Jenn Hinz

Last night I went with a few of my friends and saw Kathryn Stockett. I wasn't shocked that the audience was full of mostly white women, but I do have to admit I was disappointed. This event was the polar opposite of the Rebecca Skloot event I attended in March. I know The Help and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks are two very different books, but I still was disappointed that the crowd wasn't more diverse.

I had a good time and enjoyed listening to Stockett speak about her novel and how it came about. I was also happy to hear that she is working on a book that takes place in the '20s-30s (also in the South).

Torn

2011-05-03T09:16:00.001-05:00

I've been reading A Discovery of Witches by Debroah Harkness the last few days, and I am really enjoying it. I'm not quite halfway through it but I am getting close. We are reading this for book club this month and we don't meet until May 25.

So do I put this down for a few days and start reading the new Sookie Stackhouse book, Dead Reckoning, which publishes today and was delivered to my Nook first thing today. I started to read the first chapter on the way into work...

Decisions, decisions.

Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut

2011-04-29T18:25:00.000-05:00

Just finished my first Vonnegut at lunch today! My newest book club selected Cat's Cradle for our upcoming May meeting.

Our narrartor is a guy named John, who is writing a book about what people were doing the day that the atom bomb was dropped. He focuses on people who knew Felix Hoenikker, the fictional character who is (one of) the father of the atom bomb. He meets Hoenikker's children and ends up with them on a fictional Caribbean island called San Lorenzo. Theres a little thing called ice nine and a fictional religion called bokonism.

This was a very entertaining quick read. The whole time I was reading it I felt like I was missing something. Like I wasn't reading into the deeper meaning. This is one of those ones that would have been great to read in college. Luckily, I'll be able to discuss it at book club!

I also decided to head over to the SparkNotes page for this book and ended up taking the Review Quiz. I got 21 out of 25. Not too bad.

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach

2011-04-28T08:16:00.000-05:00

Mary Roach's Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers was our book club pick for April. We are actually meeting tonight and are all trying to think of stiff-themed food. Maybe I'll post pics.

Ok so back to the book. I have had a copy of this that I think I got off of Bookmooch a couple of years ago. I always would see it on the shelf and think "I should read that." Well now I finally did. And I have to admit that if it wasn't for book club, I probably wouldn't have finished. If you read my blog regularly, you know I'm not much of a nonfiction person, but this book has been so popular I thought that it must be one of those really good non-fiction books that is written so well you hardly know you are reading non-fiction. Not the case.

I felt like the first few chapters held my attention enough, then the middle just felt like she was filling up space and going off an tangents of the medical/science world that weren't related to cadavers, and then towards the end it seemed more focused again.

At first Roach's focus is on what the possibilities are for your corpse if you choose to donate it for medical/scientific research. We get a background on anatomy back in the day, when getting your hands on a cadaver proved more difficult. I felt like as the book went on she really stretched to apply this idea to the later chapters.

People also say that this book is funny and made them laugh out loud. I did not find this book funny or clever in any way. It also kind of grossed me out.

The upside is that now I have read it and I'm totally ok with getting rid of my copy which makes space for a book that is better suited to my tastes.

Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume

2011-04-25T10:50:00.001-05:00

Tiger Eyesby Judy Blume was my all time favorite book in junior high. I probably read it a million times during high school too. A few Sundays ago I wasn't sure what to read so I decided to pick it up. It was fun to reread after all of these years.

The story is about Davey, a 15-year-old girl whose father is murdered while working in his 7-11 in Atlantic City. The book begins the day of his funeral. Only a few weeks later they go to Los Almos for what is supposed to be a visit to Davey's aunt and uncle; they end up spending the entire school year. Davey feels alone, and is struggling with her own grief and feels like her mother has relinquished all parental rights to her overprotective aunt and uncle.

This book fell right in line with what I loved as a preteen: it made me cry. For some reason I was into reading about other people's sad lives. This books is a total young adult classic in my book. I'm very nervous about the movie being released even though Judy Blume has been very involved in the process.

I enjoyed going back to this so much I may have to go back and read my other Judy Blume favorite, Just As Long As We're Together.

Matched by Ally Condie

2011-04-25T10:50:00.000-05:00

I was very curious about Matched by Ally Condie. It had gotten mixed reviews from other book bloggers I follo w.

The premise of Matched is a dystopian society (a popular genre in YA fiction right now) in which The Society determines what job, neighborhood, spouse is the best fit for each person. They even control when a person dies.

When a citizen turns 17 they will be Matched. There is a special ceremony that the teen attends with his or her parents where they enjoy a feast and they learn whom they are matched to. Cassia is the main character of Matched. Her story begins the night of her own Match Ceremony. We follow her through the her grandfather's death, what her days are like in this structured world. We witness her transformation from a child who thought that The Society knew what was best to a young adult who begins to question the world in which she livests.

As with all teen dystopians it seems that is is necessary for there to be a love triangle. This is totally where this book went wrong for me. I felt like when it came to love interests Cassie lacked any real emotion. I couldn't believe that she had any real love for Ky. While I did feel like she did have strong platonic feelings for Xander, but I didn't see how her feelings for Ky rivaled anything she felt for Xander. I did feel that the emotion surrounding the relationship with her family was there. But if these romantic feelings for Ky are what begins her wondering about the way things are, I just can't buy it. I didn't feel anything.

I only gave this 2/5 stars.

Where She Went by Gayle Forman

2011-04-25T10:49:00.001-05:00

Where She Went by Gayle Forman is the follow-up to If I Stay. The fact that there is a follow-up kind of gives away how If I Stay ends. That said, it is still worth reading If I Stay because the perspective from which it is written is very interesting.

Where She Went is narrated by Adam, Mia's high school boyfriend. After not seeing or speaking to each other for three years, Adam happens to be in New York City the night Mia is making her debut as a professional cellist. Adam happens to pass the hall where she is playing and buys a ticket. After the concert Mia and Adam spend the evening together exploring the emotions and grief they have both been dealing with and exploring if there is any hope for the future.

I ended up liking this book more than I thought I would. I liked that it wasn't from Mia's perspective this time around. I do not believe that there is another book following Mia and Adam planned. If there were I'm sure I'd read it, but I'm honestly not sure what it would be about. Where She Went ties Mia and Adams story up (although I'm not saying if it was a neat happy ending or not).

Rumors by Anna Godbersen

2011-04-25T10:49:00.000-05:00

Somehow April accidently turned into Teen/Young Adult reading month for me. I stopped in the library one day during lunch and randomly picked up Rumors by Ann Godbersen, the second book in the Luxe series. I read the first book back in January. I was finally ready to see where the series went next.

These books aren't stellar but they are good brain candy and once you start reading you want to know what e happens to the characters next. I don't want to go into series in too much detail so that I don't ruin the first book for any one interested, but I will say that this book was better than the first.

Swim Back to Me by Ann Packer

2011-04-25T09:32:00.000-05:00

I have been horrible with keeping up with my posting. I went out and bought a copy of Ann Packer's newest story collection Swim Back to Me the week it published. I've read all of her books, but I have to say that I think The Dive from Clausen's Pier is my favorite.

Swim Back to Me begins with a novella about a teenage boy and a girl he befriends for a year while their father's teach at the same university. I really enjoyed this story. And I loved that Packer ended the collection with a story about this girl and where she ended up in her life.

The stories in this collection are about struggles in life. I don't think that many people can directly relate to these struggles personally, but they make you stop and think what it would be like to be in the situations and how you might react.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

2011-04-13T15:06:00.002-05:00

On my vacation from work, I finished reading The Tiger's Wife, and felt compelled to pick up The Hunger Games for my third time around.

I find it interesting how I react differently each time I read it. All three times, I started reading and couldn't put it down. The first time I know that I was completely taken and was hanging on every word. I know I cried at some point while reading it but it was later in the book that it happened. The second time I read in preparation for the release of Mockingjay (the final book in the series). This time I cried immediately. Seeing where Katniss was at the beginning and knowing what she has to endure during the novel was too much.

This time around, I don't think I cried at all. I still loved it as much as the first time I read, but for some reason no tears. Maybe it is because I know how it all ends this time? Which really could have made me cry this time around in places that I hadn't cried before.

If you have been living under a rock and haven't read this series, you should check it out. And if you are holding out because of all of the hype, DON'T! These books are amazing!

Behind

2011-04-12T15:02:00.000-05:00

I'm behind in writing posts on here. I still need to write posts for The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins) and Swim Back to Me (Ann Packer).

I thought it might be a good idea to read three books at once while I am at it too.

I'm reading Stiff for Book Club. While I am enjoying this book and find it interesting, I think I'll need to take my time and read it slowly with other books in between. And I would not advise eating too close to any meal time.

I started re-reading Tiger Eyes my favorite book from jr high because I need to take breaks while reading Stiff. I forgot how much I love this book!

And then yesterday I picked up Rumors the second book in The Luxe series because I'm really in a brain candy kind of mood. So far I'm enjoying it.

The Tiger’s Wife by Téa Obreht

2011-04-02T16:18:00.000-05:00

Today I finished The Tiger's Wife by Téa Obreht. I'll admit I picked up this book because of all the hype I was seeing. The authoress is only 25 and was included in The New Yorker's 20 best writers under 40 and the National Book Foundation said she was one of the best writers under 35 in 2010.

The story begins with Natalia, a young doctor, travelling to an orphanage to treat children. While on the road, she learns of her grandfather's death. She grew up living with both her grandparents and mother. She and her grandfather shared a very special relationship. We watch her as she continues on her journey and tries to understand the unusual circumstances of her grandfather's death. As the story unfolds, we catch a glimpse of life in Eastern Europe both pre- and post-war.

The story also includes tales that I would consider folk-lore type stories, including that of the Tiger's Wife from Natalia's grandfather's childhood, and the story of the deathless man whom her grandfather met more than once in his lifetime.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I didn't like how some of the chapters were over 30 pages. I felt like I needed to have a few hours to read without being interrupted. I couldn't just pick it up for 15 minutes here and there. The prose was beautiful, but it just wasn't one of those books I just couldn't put down. And while I didn't find myself completely sucked it, I did keep wondering what was going to happen to the characters. I thought the ending was anti-climatic. I can't say this is a book I'd recommend, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't check it out if you aren't interested. I'm glad I read it.

Books I want to read

2011-03-29T10:20:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since I've done a post of books that are on my radar. It's always interesting to look back on these to see what I've read on them and what I haven't.

Swim Back to Me by Ann Packer
I am super excited about Ann Packer's new short story collection. And she'll be in St. Louis on April 26!

So Much Pretty by Cara Hoffman
I checked this out from the library and need to get it read before I have to return it. I've been hearing good things.

On the Road by Jack Kerouac
I've owned this book for years. It is time. I really want to read this in 2011.

After Dark by Haruki Murakami
I read my first Murakami this year and now I can't get enough.

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

2011-03-28T14:38:00.002-05:00

Sunday night I finished my second reading of The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. This time around I read it as an eBook and read for one of my book clubs. I am so excited to actually be able to meet and discuss this book. I remember wishing I had read this in college after the first time I finished it. I wanted to go to class and discuss. Unfortunately, I wasn’t assigned the book ever in college.

Atwood’s story takes place in the near future of America where the government has been taken over by religious radicals. In this new society, men rank higher than women and there is even a hierarchy for the women. The main character Offred (whose real name we never learn) is a handmaid in this new society which is referred to as Republic of Gilead. She cryptically narrates her life to the reader: how she ended up where she is; her daily life and routines; and the way the world works in the new Republic. Her tale is very frightening.

I recently heard Atwood interviewed on Science Fridays (NPR) and she said that everything she writes comes from something that has actually happened in the world. I didn’t know that the first time I read the book, so this time around I kept wondering where and when some of the ideas in the book came from.

You should also check out Wendy's review. I think she did a lot better job describing the book than I did.

An Evening with Rebecca Skloot

2011-03-23T21:18:00.001-05:00

Tonight the Missouri History Museum (along with some sponsors) hosted Rebecca Skloot, author of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (which is now out in paperback!). After seeing her and hearing her speak I want to be friends with her.

The evening was arranged as a Q&A session with local scientist, Dr. Danielle Lee. Seeing her speak reminded me how much I loved this book. I was even lucky enough to get a sticker on the back of my ticket that meant I could skip to the front of the line to get a book signed. Unfortunately, I don't own a copy of this book. I did however pass my ticket along to someone else who was waiting in line.

Read this book!

The Metropolis Case by Matthew Gallaway

2011-03-22T19:39:00.001-05:00

I'll admit the reason I obtained a copy of The Metropolis Case was because I follow Matthew Gallaway on Tumblr. And it is always good to be supportive. The story line sounded interesting to me but I don't think it is something that I would have just picked up. I am so glad I did get a copy. I'm also kind of glad that I let it sit a bit and knew it was there waiting. I feel like it is one of those books that you keep thinking about after you are finished and you are sad that it is over.

The Metropolis Case follows four people: Martin, Maria, Anna, and Lucien. Martin is a successful lawyer living in New York; Maria is an aspiring Opera singer; Anna is a former Opera star and now teacher at Julliard; and Lucien is an aspiring singer living in the late 1800's in Paris. That is just an extremely quick peek at the characters. There is so much more to each of them and their stories and how their stories intersect.

I studied Opera a tiny bit in college when I took a History of Music class. I've always wanted to go to the Opera because I think it's something I should experience at least once in life. I'm the furthest thing from an Opera buff and if you aren't interested in Opera there is still plenty of this novel for you to enjoy that doesn't involve Opera.

I thoroughly enjoyed the relationships in this novel (much like The Weird Sisters). The relationships that the characters shared with the people in their lives, and their own relationship with themselves made them feel very real to me. I kept thinking, "I wonder what so and so is doing now" as if they actually existed. I wanted to see pictures of them and know what they were up to. I wished they had a twitter account or a tumblr or a facebook page!

I also loved the moments where certain aspects of the story came together. I did a little speculating as I read and sometimes just before something was going to happen I would guess. The way things tied together kept me hooked. While the story does have a neat little ending, it isn't all happy and perfect. There was even an section that had me in a pretty serious sob session (although I am not sure every reader will have the same reaction).

The last thing I wanted to write about is something I wanted to be careful writing about and I'm not exactly sure what I want to say but wanted to mention it because it was a big part of my experience in reading this book.

One aspect of the novel that set it apart from anything else I read was the way the characters sexuality was presented. Both Martin and Lucien are homosexuals. I haven't read very many works of fiction about gay people so I don't have much to compare it to, but I felt like the way it was treated in this novel was very different from what I had read. What I've read is just kind like "Yeah this person is gay." End of story. But with The Metropolis Case, I felt like the author did a good job showing the struggle one deals with when trying to sort out their sexuality and the emotional aspect of it. I thought he did a great job showing how a relationship between two people of the same sex is pretty much exactly the same as between two people of the opposite sex. All right I guess that is all I had to say about that.

If you have a copy of this book and haven't read, you are missing out.

Currently Reading: The Metropolis Case

2011-03-16T21:28:00.000-05:00

The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown

2011-03-16T12:12:00.000-05:00

I picked up a copy of Eleanor Brown's The Weird Sisters based on Wendy's recommendation.

It is the story of three sisters whose father is a famous Shakespeare professor. Each has a name that comes from one of Shakespeare's places Rosalind (Rose), Bianca (Bean), and Cordelia (Cordy). They each find themselves at a point in there life where they feel they are failing, at this same time their mother is diagnosed with breast cancer. Each of the girls moves back into their family home. It's interesting because they aren't the BFF type of sisters. They love each other but it's not like they enjoy being around one another.

What I loved about this story was they way we saw the characters learn things about themselves and how they interacted with each other. There are so many relationships between the members of this family and each person is so different.

I think if you are into character driven novels you should check this out. It's definitely a girly book but I don't think I'd put it in the chick lit category.

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

2011-03-13T14:52:00.000-05:00

I kept hearing about Across the Universe by Beth Revis and kept thinking I'm not sure if I am interested. The title kind of turned me off, I mean it totally fits with the story but it just isn't original.

I decided to request this from the library after Lady Luker brought a copy to our last book club meeting. It came in pretty quickly which I was happy about because after holding a copy in my hand I was very curious.

The two main characters are Amy and Elder. Amy is a teen-aged girl from Earth, who along with her parents was frozen and placed aboard a spaceship, Godspeed, bound for Centurai-Earth. She will be frozen for 300 years while the ship makes its journey. Elder, the future leader of Godspeed, has lived his entire life on the ship.

Something goes wrong and Amy wakes up 50 years earlier than she was supposed to. When the pods of frozen passengers unfrozen, she and Elder team up to find out what is really going on upon Godspeed. Why is someone trying murder the forzen passengers? Why is Eldest, Elder's predecessor, not properly training him and withholding information about the ship's past?

I enjoyed this book quite a bit, but it wasn't something that I couldn't put down. It was a very quick read and at time a little predictable. With that said, I didn't feel like it was a typical dystopian novel. There were things that happened that I didn't see coming. I never felt a strong connection with any of the characters.

I guess it's hard to measure up when I compare all YA dystopians to the Hunger Games.

World War Z by Max Brooks

2011-03-10T10:42:00.002-06:00

I have been wanting to read World War Z by Max Brooks for awhile now.

It was selected for one of my book clubs and I was stoked. I have checked this out from the library before and wasn't able to get into it. I experienced the same thing this time around. I did make it exactly 108 pages into the book, but never was able to pick it up again. Luckily the library had an audio book available for download so I listened to the rest of the book instead of reading.

This book is written like a history book for a made-up historical zombie war. I think this is part of the reason I couldn’t get into it. It is well-written and definitely the author put a lot of time into thinking and planning it all out. But it didn’t have the character development I need to stay interested. Listening to the audio (which doesn’t include all of the text from the book) was easier. There was a different actor for each account. Hearing the different voices tell their stories helped me feel more engaged.

So if you have ever wanted to read this book but had trouble, check out the audio book!